Browsing by Autor "Jerry L. Solis"

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Biodiesel from rapeseed oil (Brassica napus) by supported Li2O and MgO
(Springer Nature, 2016) Jerry L. Solis; Albin Lindström Berkemar; Lucio Alejo; Yohannes Kiros
Vegetable oils are a vast triglyceride source for biodiesel production; i.e. fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), with methanol and a catalyst via transesterification reaction. The aim of this work was to study heterogeneously catalysed biodiesel production with solid oxides such as mayenite (Ca12Al14O33) and alumina (Al2O3) as catalyst carriers using edible rapeseed oil as feedstock. These oxides were impregnated to have Li2O and MgO concentrations of 5–10 and 5–30 wt% on each carrier, respectively. The catalysts were characterized using N2-physisorption (BET/BJH), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. The synthesized catalysts were mesoporous ranging from 119 to 401 Å and their chemical phase composition was confirmed by the XRD. The catalyst coating (MgO/Li2O) was studied, along with the catalyst amount in the reactor and the assessment of the transesterification reaction kinetics. The reaction was studied at 60 °C, atmospheric pressure, agitation rate of 180 rpm, and a reaction time of 2 h in a 6:1 molar ratio of methanol to oil. For each catalyst, loadings of 2.5, 5, and 10 wt% relative to the oil weight were evaluated. The highest biodiesel yield was obtained by 5 wt% (relative to oil weight) impregnated mayenite catalyst coated with 10 wt% of Li2O. The kinetic data fits to a pseudo-first-order model having a reaction rate constant equal to 0.045 min−1 under these mild reaction conditions.
Calcium and tin oxides for heterogeneous transesterification of Babasssu oil (Attalea speciosa)
(Elsevier BV, 2016) Jerry L. Solis; Lucio Alejo; Yohannes Kiros
Ethanol Production from Schinus molle Essential Oil Extraction Residues
(Springer Science+Business Media, 2019) Jerry L. Solis; Robert R. Davila; Camilo Sandoval; Daniel Guzmán; Héctor Guzmán; Lucio Alejo; Yohannes Kiros
The present study determines the best conditions for the fermentation of Schinus molle drupes by the combination of different types of hydrolysis with the search for an adequate yeast strain. Schinus molle seed residues from an essential oil extraction plant (EOEP) have a high potential for ethanol production. Native yeast strains were isolated from the residues and were used to ferment the lignocellulosic residues, along with baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) at 30 °C and pH 5.5 for comparison. Morphological and biochemical characterizations were carried out on the isolated yeast strains. Thermogravimetric and high-performance liquid chromatography analyses were done on the S. molle seeds (fresh and residue) to determine the ethanol production potential. The followed methodology included increasing the sugar content by hydrolysis with chemical (sulphuric acid, acetic acid, and sodium hydroxide), physical (thermal, vacuum, and ultrasound), and enzymatic treatments (amyloglucosidase and α-amylase). Once the optimum combination of yeast-hydrolysis was determined, a comparison of the greenhouse gas emissions between the original and proposed processes was done. The fermentation of the residues might replace methane from uncontrolled decomposition and reduce the solid residues in 50%/day, hence the EOEP global warming potential is reduced by 47%. The yearly income was estimated to increase by USD 2592.50 from 6302.6 L of ethanol produced from the residues.
Lipase production from Bacillus safensis VC-6 isolated from the volcanic region of Copahue: optimization and functional genomic insights
(Frontiers Media, 2025) V. Foronda; Valeria Castellanos; C. Hoepfner; Daniel Guzmán; Héctor Guzmán; Jerry L. Solis
Extremophilic microorganisms produce highly stable and industrial-grade enzymes with enhanced performance. Thermostable enzymes, such as lipases that catalyze the hydrolysis and esterification of lipids, are of great industrial interest due to their stability and efficacy under harsh conditions, making them ideal for applications in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Lipase production from various microorganisms is well-studied. However, optimization studies remain limited for lipases sourced from halotolerant bacteria, such as Bacillus safensis strain VC-6, known to grow above 10% (w/v) NaCl and 50°C. The limited research on optimizing these enzymes prevents their widespread adoption in industries requiring high thermostability and solvent tolerance. This study optimized the production of thermostable and halotolerant lipases using the extremophilic strain VC-6, isolated from samples from the Copahue Volcano, Chile. Strain VC-6 was selected from five candidate strains due to its stable growth within simple culture media and positive results in qualitative lipase activity assays. In the initial phases, VC-6 demonstrated superior potential for lipase production. Growth conditions were optimized using a heterotrophic medium supplemented with 2% (w/v) NaCl, 2% (v/v) glycerol, and pH 6 at 37°C. Lipase production was maximized based in the previous medium supplemented with 1% (w/v) yeast extract, 0.5% (w/v) KCl, 3% (v/v) sunflower oil, 2% (v/v) glycerol, and pH 8 at 37°C. Extracellular lipase activity was assessed, and enzyme recovery was facilitated through precipitation methods. Lipase activity was quantified in a batch bioreactor under controlled conditions achieving a maximum enzymatic activity of 12.83 U mL-1 at 16 h of cultivation, correlated with the exponential growth phase of the bacteria. Genetic identification (16S rRNA gene) confirmed that strain VC-6 belongs to the Bacillus genus, sharing 99.93% similarity with Bacillus safensis. Genomic analysis revealed the presence of key genes related to lipase production, including YtpA (phospholipase), LipC (germination lipase), and a thermostable monoacylglycerol lipase. These genes likely explain the observed peaks of enzymatic activity during the fermentation process, with distinct activity observed at different time points. This study highlights the potential of Bacillus safensis strain VC-6 as a promising source of thermostable and halotolerant lipases. The integration of optimized bioprocess conditions and genomic-based understanding establishes a solid groundwork for the future industrial exploitation of these biocatalysts under extreme environmental conditions. The optimization of growth conditions and the identification of critical genes related to lipase production further enhance the potential for scaling up production processes in biotechnological applications.
Protease Production by Bacteria Isolated from Laguna Chiar Khota, Potosi-Bolivia, for Protein Hydrolysates Production
(Springer Science+Business Media, 2022) Jerry L. Solis; Paola Ayala‐Borda; Willy Alvarez; Roberto Soto; Virginia A. Vargas